VisitScotland Links Are Well-Plaid!

VisitScotland has gifted the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America) with a unique tartan to signify Scotland’s proud links with the organisation.

To commemorate the centenary year of the PGA of America, the national tourism organisation and Scottish Development International presented the golfing body with a one-of-a-kind tartan weave at the PGA Show 2016 in Orlando, Florida last Thursday (28 January).

The PGA of America Centennial Tartan has been exclusively created to mark 100 years since the inception of the organisation and honours the role Scottish-born professional golfers played in its formation.

Tartan has become an internationally-acclaimed style icon and the development of the PGA of America Tartan represents a significant new design landmark during the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

The tartan was the brainchild of Matt Clark, owner of Scottish golf business, Bridge Golf Scotland, and was created by renowned textile manufacturers, Lochcarron of Scotland. The colours were carefully chosen to represent those of the PGA of America as well as Scotland’s Saltire flag and the iconic Stars and Stripes banner of the United States.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said:

“We were honoured to present this new tartan at the PGA Show in Orlando, celebrating the proud association Scotland, the Home of Golf, has with the PGA of America.

“With this being the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design it was fitting that we gifted a specially designed piece of tartan, commemorating the centennial year of an incredible golfing institute in our own unique style.

“We look forward to continuing our fantastic relationship with the PGA in the future. I’m sure we will see many familiar faces at some of Scotland’s major golfing events later this year, including The Open at Royal Troon.”

PGA of America, Honorary President Allen Wronowski said:

“It is with a great deal of honour that the PGA of America accepts the beautiful Scottish tartan, symbolic of the bond that the PGA of America shares with the Home of Golf.

“Scottish blood was a part of our Association’s founding a century ago and our shared passion and pride for growing the game has never been stronger.”

Graeme White, head of tourism at Scottish Enterprise said:

“Scottish tartan is known the world over for its iconic fashion, quality and heritage. But it is also an important commercial product of Scotland.

“This new tartan, while welcoming the PGA of America into our global family, also offers Scottish businesses and manufacturers exciting national and international trade opportunities, which we look forward to supporting.”

The tartan cloth marks will now be made available to all PGA of America members as well as offering commercial opportunities for Scottish businesses and manufacturers.

The tartan was gifted to the PGA of America at the Scotland, the Home of Golf stand at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. The show represents the biggest gathering of golf industry professionals on the planet with more than 1000 golf businesses and 40,000 golf industry professionals attending. Scotland’s presence at the show is supported by VisitScotland and Scottish Development International and includes businesses from across the golf tourism and manufacturing industries in Scotland.